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Abstract

We demonstrate a gain-switched singly Ho3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser for the first time in the wavelength region around 2.94 μm which circumvents the strong water vapor lines. Four switchable gain-switched temporal states with 1/n (n = 4,3,2,1) pump repetition rates are first observed. The influences of pump power (pulse energy), repetition rate, duty cycle (pulse duration), and laser wavelength on their characteristics are studied, respectively. The results indicate that high pump repetition rate, large pump duty cycle, and short laser wavelength are beneficial for obtaining more gain-switched temporal states. For the case (n = 1), the increased pump repetition rate contributes to the increased pulse duration while decreased pulse energy and peak power. While μs-level pump pulse duration variation has an almost negligible effect on them. By introducing a plane ruled grating, the wavelength tuning was performed yielding a tuning range of 105 nm from 2895.5 nm to 3000.5 nm which just overlays the peak region of liquid water absorption. Finally, further optimizing of laser performances is discussed as well. This demonstration is helpful for preliminarily designing, prior to constructing a mid-infrared gain-switched laser which can find direct applications in laser surgery.

Fig. 5 (a) Output power, pulse energy, and peak power, and (b) repetition rate and pulse duration as a function of the pump power and pulse energy when the pump repetition rate and duty cycle were set at 80 kHz and 80%, respectively.

Fig. 6 Pump pulse energy thresholds of different stable gain-switched temporal states (i.e., “4-1”, “3-1”, “2-1”, and “1-1” states) as a function of the pump repetition rates when the pump pulse duration was fixed at 10 μs. “No” represents that the corresponding temporal state cannot be obtained.

Fig. 7 Pump pulse energy thresholds of different stable gain-switched temporal states (i.e., (1) “4-1”, (b) “3-1”, (c) “2-1”, and (d) “1-1” states) as a function of the pump duty cycles at different pump repetition rates. “No” represents that the corresponding temporal state cannot be obtained. “Limitation” represents the corresponding data not measured due to the limited pump.

Fig. 8 Pulse duration, pulse energy, and peak power as a function of (a) the pump repetition rate when the pump power and pulse duration were fixed at 2.14 W and 10 μs, respectively, (b) the pulse duration when the pump power and repetition rate were fixed at 2.64 W and 80 kHz, respectively.

Fig. 10 Pump pulse energy thresholds of different stable gain-switched temporal states (i.e., “4-1”, “3-1”, “2-1”, and “1-1” states) as a function of the laser wavelength when the pump repetition rate and pulse duration were fixed at 80 kHz and 80%, respectively. “No” represents that the corresponding temporal state cannot be obtained.

Fig. 11 Pump pulse energy thresholds of different stable gain-switched temporal states (i.e., “4-1”, “3-1”, “2-1”, and “1-1” states) as a function of the pump repetition rates when the pump pulse duration and laser wavelength were fixed at 10 μs and 2940 nm, respectively. “No” represents that the corresponding temporal state cannot be obtained.

Fig. 12 Pump pulse energy thresholds of different stable gain-switched temporal states (i.e., (1) “4-1”, (b) “3-1”, (c) “2-1”, and (d) “1-1” states) as a function of the pump duty cycles at different pump repetition rates when the laser wavelength was fixed at 2940 nm. “No” represents that the corresponding temporal state cannot be obtained. “Limitation” represents the corresponding data not measured due to the limited pump.